DOCSLIB.ORG

A New Species of Pseudocercospora on Encephalartos Barteri from Benin

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A New Species of Pseudocercospora on Encephalartos Barteri from Benin Asian Journal of Mycology 2(1): 101–109 (2019) ISSN 2651-1339 www.asianjournalofmycology.org Article Doi 10.5943/ajom/2/1/4 A new species of Pseudocercospora on Encephalartos barteri from Benin Meswaet Y1, Mangelsdorff R1, Yorou NS2 and Piepenbring M1 1Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Faculty of Biosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Biologicum, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60439 Frankfurt am Main, Germany 2Faculty of Agronomy, University of Parakou, BP 123 Parakou, Benin Meswaet Y, Mangelsdorff R, Yorou NS, Piepenbring M 2019 – A new species of Pseudocercospora on Encephalartos barteri from Benin. Asian Journal of Mycology 2(1), 101– 109, Doi 10.5943/ajom/2/1/4 Abstract An infection of leaves of Encephalartos barteri (Zamiaceae) by a cercosporoid fungus was repeatedly observed in central Benin, West Africa. Morphological characteristics, the host relationship and DNA sequence data for two gene regions, namely ITS and rpb2, were compared to the corresponding characteristics of closely related, known cercosporoid species and showed that the specimens from Benin represent a new species of Pseudocercospora. Pseudocercospora encephalarti is the first Pseudocercospora species on a species of the host genus Encephalartos, as well as for the whole class Cycadopsida. It was found to be closely associated with a species of Corynespora that could not be identified in the context of the present study. Key words – Corynespora – Cycadopsida – Mycosphaerellaceae – new species – Zamiaceae Introduction The genus Pseudocercospora was established by Spegazzini (1910) based on the type species Pseudocercospora vitis (Lév.) Speg., a foliar pathogen of grapevines. The majority of Pseudocercospora species known to date are pathogens on a wide variety of plants, including numerous economically relevant species of food crops or ornamentals all over the world (Den Breeÿen et al. 2006). They are known mainly from tropical and sub-tropical environments where they cause leaf spots, blight, fruit spots or fruit rot (von Arx 1983, Chupp 1954, Deighton 1976, Pons & Sutton 1988). Pseudocercospora species are morphologically characterized by pigmented conidia and conidiophores without thickened scars (Pereira & Barreto 2006). Species of this genus usually infest angiosperms, but a few species are also known from gymnosperms (Braun et al. 2013). Materials & Methods Collections and morphological studies Leaf samples infected by cercosporoid fungi were collected in Benin in July and August of 2016 and 2107. Specimens were observed by stereomicroscopy and by standard methods of light microscopy, using a Zeiss Axioscope 40 microscope. For light microscopy, leaf sections were made Submitted 14 January 2019, Accepted 11 April 2019, Published 25 April 2019 Corresponding Author: Yalemwork Meswaet – e-mail – [email protected] 101 with razor blades and mounted in distilled water and 5% KOH without any staining. Semi- permanent preparations of sections of the infected leaf were made by a microtome (Leica CM 1510-1) and mounted in lactophenol with cotton blue. Measurements of 30 conidia, conidiophores and other structures have been made at a magnification of ×1000. Measurements are presented as mean value ± standard deviation with extreme values in parentheses. For scanning electron microscopy, dried material was directly mounted and sputtered with gold for 3 minutes. Photographs were made with a Hitachi S 4500 scanning electron microscope (SEM). DNA Extraction and PCR amplification DNA was isolated from caespituli taken from dry specimens of the cercosporoid fungus using E.Z.N.A® Forensic DNA Extraction Kit following the manufacturer’s instructions with a few modifications. Small pieces of leaves containing several clean caespituli, with as little other fungi as possible, were checked under the stereomicroscope. Precautions were taken to avoid picking any other associated materials that could lead to potential contamination. To extract total genomic DNA from caespituli, a small amount of clean mycelium from the leaf surface was transferred into a sterile Eppendorf tube using a sterilized needle and tape-lifts. The material was homogenized for 7– 10 min. using a Retsch Mixer Mill MM301 with TL buffer and 2.5 mm Zirconia beads. Isolated DNA was re-suspended in elution buffer and stored at -20°C. DNA concentration was checked by a NanoDrop 2000c spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA). Two genomic loci were amplified. For the ITS region, primers V9G (de Hoog & Gerrits van den Ende 1998) with ITS4 (White et al. 1990) and for the rpb2-locus Rpb2-F4 (Videira et al. 2017) or RPB2-5F2 (Sung et al. 2007) with fRPB2-7cR (Liu et al. 1999) were used. PCR amplification and sequencing were conducted following the protocols of Crous et al. (2009, 2012) and Videira et al. (2017). The PCR mixtures consisted of 1 μL genomic DNA, 15× MgCl2 reaction buffer (Bioline, Luckenwalde, Germany), 25 mM MgCl2, 25 μM of each dNTP, 10 μM of each primer and 5 U Taq DNA polymerase (VWR) in a total volume of 25 μL. Cycling parameters of the PCR for ITS were as follows: initial denaturation 94°C for 3 min; 35 cycles of amplification [denaturation at 94°C for 30 s, primer annealing 52°C for 30 s and TAQ extension 72°C for 45 s], and a final TAQ extension 72°C for 5 min, followed by storage at 8°C. The PCR mixture for rpb2 contained 2 μL of template DNA and to obtain the partial rpb2, a touchdown PCR protocol was used as described by Videira et al. (2017). PCR-products were checked on 1.5 % agarose electrophoresis gels containing HDGreenPlus DNA stain. Amplified PCR products were purified with the Cycle Pure Kit (VWR-Omega, USA). Sequencing was performed at Seqlab GmbH, Germany. Molecular phylogeny Amplification of the ITS and rpb2 gene regions for all isolates used in this study resulted in amplification products of approximately 650 bp for ITS and 1068 bp for rpb2. Consensus sequences of trace files were generated with Geneious 10.2.2 (https://www.geneious.com, Kearse et al. 2012) and searched against GenBank (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/, Benson et al. 2013) with MegaBLAST. Sequences with a maximum identity of more than 95% (14 sequences to ITS and rpb2) were retrieved (Table 1). The sequences obtained from GenBank (Table 1) and sequences generated in this study were aligned with MAFFT v. 7 using the L-INS-i algorithm, (Nakamura et al. 2018). The alignments were manually checked by using MEGA v. 7 (Kumar et al. 2016). Gblocks v. 0.91b (Talavera & Castresana 2007) was used to remove poorly aligned positions and divergent regions from the DNA alignment using the parameters for a less stringent selection. To test the level of congruence among the two loci (ITS & rpb2), the Congruence Among Distance Matrices test, CADM global of R package APE v.3.2 (Paradis et al. 2004, R Core Team 2017), was performed. The CADM results showed that the null hypothesis of complete incongruence among loci was rejected (W = 0.0.89; p < 0.01), thus allowing concatenation of the two loci. Subsequently a two locus concatenated alignment (ITS, rpb2) dataset using Geneious 10.2.2 for phylogenetic analyses was assembled. Passalora eucalypti (CBS 111318) served as outgroup taxon as proposed 102 by Crous et al. (2012). PartitionFinder2 XSEDE v.2.1.1 (Miller et al. 2010) was used to select the best-fit model of evolution (K80+I+G model to ITS, and K80+I model to rpb2) for each gene fragment separately for Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood (ML) analyses. The alignment and the tree were deposited in TreeBASE (http://purl.org/phylo/treebase/phylows/study/TB2:S23598). Phylogenetic analyses of this study were conducted by applying Maximum Likelihood (ML) with RAxML-HPC2 on XSEDE v.8.2.10 (Miller et al. 2010) and Bayesian with MrBayes on XSEDE v.3.2.6 (Miller et al. 2010) methods in the CIPRES Science Gateway web portal. (http://www.phylo.org/sub_sections/portal/). For Maximum Likelihood phylogenies performed with RAxML 1000 rapid bootstrap inferences were executed. For Bayesian phylogenies, two parallel runs with eight chains of Metropolis-coupled Markov chain Monte Carlo iterations were performed with the heat parameter being set at 0.2. Analyses were run for 100 million generations, with trees sampled every 1000th generation until the average standard deviation of split frequencies reached 0.01 (stop value). The first 25 % of saved trees were discarded as the ‘burn-in’ phase. Posterior probabilities (PP) were determined from the remaining trees. Bayesian posterior probabilities (BPP) ≥ 94 % and Bootstrap values (BS) ≥ 70% were considered significant. Table 1 Sequences downloaded from GenBank (in alphabetical order) used in this study Species Host Sources GenBank Accession No. References ITS rpb2 Passalora eucalypti Eucalyptus CBS 111318 KF901613 KF902267 Quaedvlieg et al. saligna 2014 Pseudocercospora Breonadia CBS 143489 MH107913 MH108006 Crous et al. 2018 breonadiae salicina Pseudocercospora Terminalia MAFF MF951366 MF951616 Videira et al. 2017 catappae catappa 238312 Pseudocercospora Haloragis erecta CBS 114645 KX287299 KX288454 Videira et al. 2016 dingleyae Pseudocercospora Eucalyptus CBS 124990 GU269799 MF951619 Videira et al. 2016 flavomarginata camaldulensis Pseudocercospora Eucalyptus CBS 124155 KF901673 KF902318 Quaedvlieg et al. madagascariensis camaldulensis 2014 Pseudocercospora Nelumbo Kirschner KY304492 LC199940 Chen & Kirschner nelumbonicola nucifera 4111 2018 Pseudocercospora Nerium oleander CBS 138010 NR137885 KX462647 Nakashima et al. neriicola 2016 Pseudocercospora Prunus CBS 132107 GU269676
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Somatic Embryogenesis and Regeneration of Endangered Cycad Species
    Somatic Embryogenesis and Regeneration of Endangered Cycad Species R.E. Litz and P.A. Moon V.M. Chavez Avila Tropical Research and Education Center Jardin Botanico, Instituto de Biologia University of Florida Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico 18905 SW 280 Street Apartado Postal 70-614 Homestead FL, 33031-3314 04510 Mexico DF USA Mexico Keywords: Somatic embryo, gymnosperm, Cycadales, conservation Abstract The Cycadales (Gymnospermae) include some of the world's most endangered and rare plant species. Many of the cycad species are known only as single specimen trees (e.g., Encephalartos woodii), as very small populations in the wild (e.g., Ceratozamia hildae) or have become extinct in the wild (e.g., Ceratozamia euryphyllidia). All cycads are dioecious, so that seed production is no longer possible with the rarest of the species. Conditions for induction of embryogenic cultures from leaves of mature phase trees of several species in the family Zamiaceae have been reported, and plants have been regenerated from somatic embryos. Embryogenic cultures of two species have been successfully cryopreserved. These strategies should contribute to the conservation of these endangered species and could lay the basis for commercial propagation of these beautiful but rare plants. INTRODUCTION The Cycadales represent the most ancient surviving group of higher plants, having arisen during the Permian era and flourished in the Mesozoic and Jurassic periods. They have been referred to as "living fossils" (Gilbert, 1984). Norstog (1987) considered that the cycads are unique for the study of the evolution of development in higher plants. There are only three extant cycad families, the Cycadaceae, Stangeriaceae and Zamiaceae, and these contain approximately 224 species.
    [Show full text]
  • ENCEPHALARTOSNCEPHALARTOS Tydskrif Van Die Broodboom Vereniging Van Suid-Afrika
    Journal of the Cycad Society of South Africa EENCEPHALARTOSNCEPHALARTOS Tydskrif van die Broodboom Vereniging van Suid-Afrika No. 109 September 2012 ISSN 1012-9987 Visits to three Encephalartos ferox colonies: provisional impressions Philip Rousseau¹* & George James Mann² As part of the larger endeavor to produce a mono- graphic revision of the genus Encephalartos, field work was conducted on three natural populations of Encephalartos ferox. Encephalartos ferox has always been regarded as a morphologically (both vegetative and reproductive) variable species (Vorster 2004), yet easily distinguishable as a sp e cie s, even at juvenile and s e e dling s t age s. B e c aus e of its well-defined diagnostic features, Dr. Piet Vorster places the species as unassociated in his groupings of species, a position confirmed by the senior author’s molecular work (Rousseau 2012). Encephalartos ferox is characterised by very wide ovate and heavily dentate leaflets, undulate in its width, unmistakable smooth pinkish to red cones, and seeds with a red sarcotesta. Amongst collectors special interest has always been shown towards the variability primarily in the so called “cigar leaf form” (Figure 1) and the “yellow cone form” (Figure 2). The known distribution of E. ferox extends from northern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, northwards in a more or less continues strip halfway up the Mozambican coast, the latter range involving the provinces of Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane and Sofala. Plants invariably grows at low elevation and close to the sea (IUCN 2010). The first field trip was by the first author to a population in the northeastern corner of KwaZulu-Natal (Maputaland) in January 2012.
    [Show full text]
  • Species Encephalartos Family Zamiaceae CITES Listing Appendix I Common Names Cycad Trade All South African Cycad Species (Encephalartos Spp
    SANBI IDentifyIt - Species Encephalartos Family Zamiaceae CITES Listing Appendix I Common names Cycad Trade All South African cycad species (Encephalartos spp. and Stangeria eriopus) are listed on CITES Appendix I. While no international trade is permitted in wild plants, trade is permitted in artificially propagated plants that meet certain requirements, for example, the stem diameter is less than 15 cm. The National Cycad Policy, when redrafted, will detail trade standards such as the types of shipping containers that may be used, how these containers should be sealed and when microchips are needed. Once completed, this information will be made available on the DEAT website (www.environment.gov.za). Identifying cycadsUnless complex botanical keys are used, specific cycad identification is very difficult. However, as all cycads are protected by CITES and national legislation, it is sufficient to recognise that a plant is a cycad. Become familiar with the terminology of cycad structure and the key to cycad genera, but always remember to call an expert for assistance (see Contacts). Note that there are three plant families containing cycads. Of the two genera found in South Africa, Stangeria has a single species, Stangeria eriopus. This plant, which occurs on the East coast of South Africa, has soft, fern-like pinnate leaves from 30cm to 2m long (see picture). Lateral veins arise at almost right angles to the midrib of the leaflets. Members of the genus Encephalartos can be recognized by the following basic characteristics: Leaves are pinnate, leaflets with sunken, parallel veins (no midrib). Leaflets are hard and prickly and DO NOT bend easily: they may be deep green, blue green, or grey.
    [Show full text]
  • National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
    REPUBLIC OF GHANA MINISTRY OF ENVIORNMENT, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATION NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN ACCRA NOVEMBER 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. iv List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. v Abbreviations/ Acronyms .............................................................................................................. vi FOREWORD ................................................................................................................................. ix EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ x CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 1 1.1 Territorial Area ................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Biogeographical Zones ..................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Biodiversity and its Significance ..................................................................................... 2 1.4 Biodiversity of Terrestrial Ecosystem in Ghana .............................................................. 3 1.4.1 The Flora of Terrestrial Systems..............................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Exposing the Illegal Trade in Cycad Species (Cycadophyta: Encephalartos) at Two Traditional Medicine Markets in South Africa Using DNA Barcoding1 J
    771 ARTICLE Exposing the illegal trade in cycad species (Cycadophyta: Encephalartos) at two traditional medicine markets in South Africa using DNA barcoding1 J. Williamson, O. Maurin, S.N.S. Shiba, H. van der Bank, M. Pfab, M. Pilusa, R.M. Kabongo, and M. van der Bank Abstract: Species in the cycad genus Encephalartos are listed in CITES Appendix I and as Threatened or Protected Species in terms of South Africa’s National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEM:BA) of 2004. Despite regulations, illegal plant harvesting for medicinal trade has continued in South Africa and resulted in declines in cycad populations and even complete loss of sub-populations. Encephalartos is traded at traditional medicine markets in South Africa in the form of bark strips and stem sections; thus, determining the species traded presents a major challenge due to a lack of characteristic plant parts. Here, a case study is presented on the use of DNA barcoding to identify cycads sold at the Faraday and Warwick traditional medicine markets in Johannesburg and Durban, respectively. Market samples were sequenced for the core DNA barcodes (rbcLa and matK) as well as two additional regions: nrITS and trnH-psbA. The barcoding database for cycads at the University of Johannesburg was utilized to assign query samples to known species. Three approaches were followed: tree-based, similarity-based, and character-based (BRONX) methods. Market sam- ples identified were Encephalartos ferox (Near Threatened), Encephalartos lebomboensis (Endangered), Encephalartos natalensis (Near Threatened), Encephalartos senticosus (Vulnerable), and Encephalartos villosus (Least Concern). Results from this study are crucial for making appropriate assessments and decisions on how to manage these markets.
    [Show full text]
  • 35 Ideal Landscape Cycads
    3535 IdealIdeal LandscapeLandscape CycadsCycads Conserve Cycads by Growing Them -- Preservation Through Propagation Select Your Plant Based on these Features: Exposure: SunSun ShadeShade ☻☻ ColdCold☻☻ Filtered/CoastalFiltered/Coastal SunSun ▲▲ Leaf Length and Spread: Compact, Medium or Large? Growth Rate and Ultimate Plant Size Climate: Subtropical, Mediterranean, Temperate? Dry or Moist? Leaves -- Straight or Arching? Ocean-Loving, Salt-Tolerant, Wind-Tolerant CeratozamiaCeratozamiaCeratozamiaCeratozamia SpeciesSpeciesSpeciesSpecies ☻Shade Loving ☻Cold TolerTolerantant ▲Filtered/Coastal Sun 16 named + several undescribed species Native to Mexico, Guatemala & Belize Name originates from Greek ceratos (horned), and azaniae, (pine cone) Pinnate (feather-shaped) leaves, lacking a midrib, and horned, spiny cones Shiny, darker green leaves arching or upright, often emerging red or brown Less “formal” looking than other cycads Prefer Shade ½ - ¾ day, or afternoon shade Generally cold-tolerant CeratozamiaCeratozamia ---- SuggestedSuggested SpeciesSpecies ☻Shade Loving ☻Cold TolerTolerantant ▲Filtered/Coastal Sun Ceratozamia mexicana Tropical looking but cold-tolerant, native to dry mountainous areas in the Sierra Madre Mountains (Mexican Rockies). Landscape specimen works well with water features, due to arching habit. Prefers shade, modest height, with a spread of up to 10 feet. Trunk grows to 2 feet tall. Leaflets can be narrow or wider (0.75-2 inches). CeratozamiaCeratozamia ---- SuggestedSuggested SpeciesSpecies ☻Shade Loving ☻Cold TolerTolerantant ▲Filtered/Coastal Sun Ceratozamia latifolia Rare Ceratozamia named for its broad leaflets. Native to cloud forests of the Sierra Madre mountains of Mexico, underneath oak trees. Emergent trunk grows to 1 foot tall, 8 inches in diameter. New leaves emerge bronze, red or chocolate brown, hardening off to bright green, semiglossy, and grow to 6 feet long. They are flat lance-shaped, asymmetric, and are broadest above middle, growing to 10 inches long and 2 inches wide.
    [Show full text]
  • Inducing Sex Change and Organogenesis from Tissue Culture
    114 SouthAfrican Journal of Science98, March/April2002 Gommentary reveals slight heterochromatin differ- lnducing sex change and ences,"'" which is itself due to differential methylation."''n Therefore, it is distinctly organogenesis from tissue possible that methylation controls sex determination. culture in the endangered African Methylation and accompanying hetero- chromatin can be removed by various cycad Encephalartos woodii f actors - such as temper attJte,'5''6 lighft ,27 osmotic stress,28or hormones2e-31- result- (Gycadales, Zamiaceael ing in sex change.3''33Sex change occurs only in organisms that have (virtually) indistinguishable sex chromosomes, indi- Root Gorelicku" and Roy Osborneb cating that incipient sex chromosomes are formed by slight differences in methylation. Differential methylation is I F INCIPIENT SEX CHROMOSOME DIFFEREN- Fourth, if backcrossing is the only realistic evolutionarily the first difference between I tiutiott is caused by differential methy- approach to conservation, then it is pref- females and males3nand is the likely cause I lation between females and males, then erableto use E.woodiiasthe female parent of reported sex changes in cycads. methylating or demethylating cytosine because of maternal inheritance of nucleotides may induce sex change. chloroplast genomes. Fifth, induced sex Methylation may also stimulate regeneration Application of theory to sex change of roots and shoots from tissue culture callus change may assist in the conservation of in cycads and increase genetic variation via greater
    [Show full text]
  • Biodiversity Sector Plan for the Zululand District Municipality, Kwazulu-Natal
    EZEMVELO KZN WILDLIFE Biodiversity Sector Plan for the Zululand District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Technical Report February 2010 The Project Team Thorn-Ex cc (Environmental Services) PO Box 800, Hilton, 3245 Pietermaritzbur South Africa Tel: (033) 3431814 Fax: (033) 3431819 Mobile: 084 5014665 [email protected] Marita Thornhill (Project Management & Coordination) AFZELIA Environmental Consultants cc KwaZulu-Natal Western Cape PO Box 95 PO Box 3397 Hilton 3245 Cape Town 8000 Tel: 033 3432931/32 Tel: 072 3900686 Fax: 033 3432033 or Fax: 086 5132112 086 5170900 Mobile: 084 6756052 [email protected] [email protected] Wolfgang Kanz (Biodiversity Specialist Coordinator) John Richardson (GIS) Monde Nembula (Social Facilitation) Tim O’Connor & Associates P.O.Box 379 Hilton 3245 South Africa Tel/ Fax: 27-(0)33-3433491 [email protected] Tim O’Connor (Biodiversity Expert Advice) Zululand Biodiversity Sector Plan (February 2010) 1 Executive Summary The Biodiversity Act introduced several legislated planning tools to assist with the management and conservation of South Africa’s biological diversity. These include the declaration of “Bioregions” and the publication of “Bioregional Plans”. Bioregional plans are usually an output of a systematic spatial conservation assessment of a region. They identify areas of conservation priority, and constraints and opportunities for implementation of the plan. The precursor to a Bioregional Plan is a Biodiversity Sector Plan (BSP), which is the official reference for biodiversity priorities to be taken into account in land-use planning and decision-making by all sectors within the District Municipality. The overall aim is to avoid the loss of natural habitat in Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and prevent the degradation of Ecological Support Areas (ESAs), while encouraging sustainable development in Other Natural Areas.
    [Show full text]
  • PERSOONIAL R Eflections
    Persoonia 23, 2009: 177–208 www.persoonia.org doi:10.3767/003158509X482951 PERSOONIAL R eflections Editorial: Celebrating 50 years of Fungal Biodiversity Research The year 2009 represents the 50th anniversary of Persoonia as the message that without fungi as basal link in the food chain, an international journal of mycology. Since 2008, Persoonia is there will be no biodiversity at all. a full-colour, Open Access journal, and from 2009 onwards, will May the Fungi be with you! also appear in PubMed, which we believe will give our authors even more exposure than that presently achieved via the two Editors-in-Chief: independent online websites, www.IngentaConnect.com, and Prof. dr PW Crous www.persoonia.org. The enclosed free poster depicts the 50 CBS Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT most beautiful fungi published throughout the year. We hope Utrecht, The Netherlands. that the poster acts as further encouragement for students and mycologists to describe and help protect our planet’s fungal Dr ME Noordeloos biodiversity. As 2010 is the international year of biodiversity, we National Herbarium of the Netherlands, Leiden University urge you to prominently display this poster, and help distribute branch, P.O. Box 9514, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. Book Reviews Mu«enko W, Majewski T, Ruszkiewicz- The Cryphonectriaceae include some Michalska M (eds). 2008. A preliminary of the most important tree pathogens checklist of micromycetes in Poland. in the world. Over the years I have Biodiversity of Poland, Vol. 9. Pp. personally helped collect populations 752; soft cover. Price 74 €. W. Szafer of some species in Africa and South Institute of Botany, Polish Academy America, and have witnessed the of Sciences, Lubicz, Kraków, Poland.
    [Show full text]
  • Comparative Anatomy of Leaflets of Zamia Acuminata and Z
    Comparative anatomy of leaflets of Zamia acuminata and Z. pseudomonticola (Zamiaceae) in Costa Rica Rafael Acuña-Castillo & Walter Marín-Méndez Escuela de Biología, Centro de Investigación en Estructuras Microscópicas (CIEMic), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica. P.O. Box 11501-2060; [email protected], [email protected] Received 19-III-2012. Corrected 20-VIII-2012. Accepted 24-IX-2012. Abstract: The genus Zamia is morphologically and ecologically the most diverse of the order Cycadales. Throughout its history this genus has been restricted to the New World and is presently almost entirely restricted to the Neotropics. Unusual anatomical traits of the leaflets, such as the sunken stomata and thick cuticle, are common in this and related genera. The objective of this research was to study and compare the leaflet anatomy of Zamia acuminata and Z. pseudomonticola and establish possible phylogenetic relationships between the anatomical traits and the near relatives of these species. The leaf material was obtained from living plants and then processed for electron microscopy study. We found that both species are very similar to each other and to Z. fairchildiana, and that they share several unusual traits with other species of the genus, such as the parenchyma morphology, the spatial distribution of tissues between the veins and the stomata morphology. The main differ- ences between these species were seen in their fiber clusters and in the abundance of trichome basal cells on the epidermis. The anatomical similarities between the three species could be the result of their close phylogenetic relationship and the divergences between them could be the result of recent speciation during the Pleistocene, resulting from geological changes in Southern Costa Rica.
    [Show full text]
  • Biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa and Its Islands Conservation, Management and Sustainable Use
    Biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa and its Islands Conservation, Management and Sustainable Use Occasional Papers of the IUCN Species Survival Commission No. 6 IUCN - The World Conservation Union IUCN Species Survival Commission Role of the SSC The Species Survival Commission (SSC) is IUCN's primary source of the 4. To provide advice, information, and expertise to the Secretariat of the scientific and technical information required for the maintenance of biologi- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna cal diversity through the conservation of endangered and vulnerable species and Flora (CITES) and other international agreements affecting conser- of fauna and flora, whilst recommending and promoting measures for their vation of species or biological diversity. conservation, and for the management of other species of conservation con- cern. Its objective is to mobilize action to prevent the extinction of species, 5. To carry out specific tasks on behalf of the Union, including: sub-species and discrete populations of fauna and flora, thereby not only maintaining biological diversity but improving the status of endangered and • coordination of a programme of activities for the conservation of bio- vulnerable species. logical diversity within the framework of the IUCN Conservation Programme. Objectives of the SSC • promotion of the maintenance of biological diversity by monitoring 1. To participate in the further development, promotion and implementation the status of species and populations of conservation concern. of the World Conservation Strategy; to advise on the development of IUCN's Conservation Programme; to support the implementation of the • development and review of conservation action plans and priorities Programme' and to assist in the development, screening, and monitoring for species and their populations.
    [Show full text]
  • Re-Evaluating the Taxonomic Status of Phaeoisariopsis Griseola, the Causal Agent of Angular Leaf Spot of Bean
    STUDIES IN MYCOLOGY 55: 163–173. 2006. Re-evaluating the taxonomic status of Phaeoisariopsis griseola, the causal agent of angular leaf spot of bean Pedro W. Crous1*, Merion M. Liebenberg2, Uwe Braun3 and Johannes Z. Groenewald1 1Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Fungal Biodiversity Centre, P.O. Box 85167, 3508 AD, Utrecht, The Netherlands; 2ARC Grain Crops Institute, P. Bag X1251, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; 3Martin-Luther-Universität, FB. Biologie, Institut für Geobotanik und Botanischer Garten, Neuwerk 21, D-06099 Halle (Saale), Germany *Correspondence: Pedro W. Crous, [email protected] Abstract: Angular leaf spot of Phaseolus vulgaris is a serious disease caused by Phaeoisariopsis griseola, in which two major gene pools occur, namely Andean and Middle-American. Sequence analysis of the SSU region of nrDNA revealed the genus Phaeoisariopsis to be indistinguishable from other hyphomycete anamorph genera associated with Mycosphaerella, namely Pseudocercospora and Stigmina. A new combination is therefore proposed in the genus Pseudocercospora, a name to be conserved over Phaeoisariopsis and Stigmina. Further comparisons by means of morphology, cultural characteristics, and DNA sequence analysis of the ITS, calmodulin, and actin gene regions delineated two groups within P. griseola, which are recognised as two formae, namely f. griseola and f. mesoamericana. Taxonomic novelties: Pseudocercospora griseola (Sacc.) Crous & U. Braun comb. nov., P. griseola f. mesoamericana Crous & U. Braun f. nov. Key words: Ascomycetes, DNA sequence comparisons, Mycosphaerella, Phaeoisariopsis, Phaseolus vulgaris, Pseudocercospora, systematics. INTRODUCTION Bliss 1985, 1986, Gepts et al. 1986, Koenig & Gepts 1989, Sprecher & Isleib 1989, Koenig et al. 1990, Singh Angular leaf spot (ALS) of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) et al. 1991a, b, Miklas & Kelly 1992, Skroch et al.
    [Show full text]